Aztec Fruit Bars Recipes

AZTEC HOT CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• For the hot chocolate: Bring the milk to a simmer in a large heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the chocolate, guajillo chile, cinnamon stick and vanilla bean. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer for 10 minutes, whisking constantly to develop some froth and completely melt the chocolate. Remove the chile, vanilla bean and cinnamon stick from the hot mixture.
• For the whipped cream: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, or in a large glass mixing bowl with a hand mixer, beat the cream until soft peaks form. Add the powdered sugar and beat to stiff peaks.
• Pour the hot chocolate into a mug. Dollop with the whipped cream and dust with cinnamon and chili powder. Serve immediately.

GRAHAM AND FRUIT BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. In medium bowl, mix flour, cereal, brown sugar and cinnamon. Stir in butter until well blended. Reserve 3/4 cup of the cereal mixture. Press remaining cereal mixture in bottom of 8-inch square pan.
• Spread jam over cereal mixture in pan. Sprinkle with reserved cereal mixture.
• Bake 23 to 25 minutes or until top is light golden brown and jam is bubbling. Cool 15 minutes before cutting. For bars, cut into 6 rows by 4 rows.

AZTEC CHOCOLATE DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• In medium bowl, beat eggs, granulated sugar, buttermilk, 3 tablespoons butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla with whisk until blended. Stir in cocoa. Stir in all remaining doughnut ingredients except oil just until moistened. Grease another medium bowl with shortening. Place dough in bowl, turning dough to grease all sides. Cover bowl with plastic wrap; refrigerate 1 hour.
• Place dough on generously floured surface. Roll dough in flour to coat. With floured rolling pin, roll dough to 3/8-inch thickness. Cut dough with floured 3-inch cookie cutter.
• Line 2 cookie sheets with cooking parchment paper. Place dough rounds on cookie sheets about 1 inch apart. Cut out centers using floured 1-inch cookie cutter. Reroll scraps to cut additional doughnuts. Cover cookie sheets loosely with towels; let stand at room temperature while heating oil.
• In 4-quart Dutch oven or heavy 3-quart saucepan, heat 2 inches of oil to 375°F. Place cooling rack on cookie sheet. Fry doughnuts in oil, 3 to 4 at a time, about 2 minutes, turning over every 30 seconds, until deep brown and puffed (do not undercook or centers will be raw). Remove from oil with slotted spoon to cooling rack. Cool doughnuts completely, about 20 minutes.
• In 1 1/2-quart microwavable bowl, microwave 1/4 cup butter, the milk, corn syrup and 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon on High 45 seconds or until mixture can be stirred smooth. Stir in chocolate chips. Microwave an additional 30 seconds; carefully stir until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth (stirring too quickly can cause air bubbles in glaze). Stir in 1 cup powdered sugar and the vanilla until smooth. Stir in additional powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, until consistency of thick syrup. Dip top of each doughnut into glaze; let excess drip off. Place doughnuts on cooling rack, allowing excess glaze to drip onto cookie sheet. Let stand until glaze is set, about 30 minutes.

ALMOND FRUIT BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8-inch square baking dish. In a bowl, whisk together flour, cinnamon, salt, and baking powder.
• In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars on high speed until light and fluffy; beat in egg yolk. Reduce speed to low; gradually mix in flour mixture. Stir in almonds.
• In a small bowl, whisk jam to loosen. (Stirring the jam with a fork or a whisk will enable it to spread smoothly over the dough.) Gently press half of dough into bottom of prepared dish. With the back of a spoon, gently spread jam over dough, leaving a 1/4-inch border so the jam doesn't stick to the sides of the pan. Sprinkle remaining dough over top all the way to the edges; press gently to form top layer.
• Bake until top is golden, 25 to 30 minutes; cool completely in dish. Cut into bars with a serrated knife.

LATTICE FRUIT BARS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt; cut in butter until crumbly. Combine eggs and vanilla; stir into crumb mixture until blended. Cover and refrigerate a fourth of the dough for at least 45 minutes. , Press remaining dough into an ungreased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Spread 1/4 cup apricot preserves in a 1-3/4-in. strip over one long side of crust. Spread 1/4 cup of raspberry preserves in a 1-3/4-in. strip adjoining the apricot strip. Repeat twice. , Roll out reserved dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut into 1/2-in. strips; make a lattice top. Bake at 325° for 30-35 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on wire rack. Cut into bars.

FRESH FRUIT FIESTA BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Base: In a bowl mix together flour, rolled oats and cinnamon.
• In another bowl, beat butter and sugar until smooth and creamy. Blend in flour mixture. Set aside 1 ¼ cups of mixture. Press remainder evenly into 13 by 9 inch, ungreased, cake pan. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes.
• Topping: In a bowl mix together oranges, banana, apples, raisins, orange juice and cinnamon. Spread topping evenly over warm base, leaving a space about a ¼ inch from the edges. Sprinkle reserved base mixture over top, patting down gently. Bake 15 to 20 minutes longer or until golden brown. Place pan on a rack to cool completely, then cut into bars.